FanDuel Picks and Lineup for Tuesday, May 22
Pirates at Reds
Pirates Probable Starter – Jameson Taillon, RHP
3.97 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 20.8 strikeout rate
Vs LHH – .253 average, .331 wOBA, 28.1 fly ball rate and 26.9 hard contact rate
Vs RHH – .231 average, .268 wOBA, 34.3 fly ball rate and 28.4 hard contact rate
If this game was at PNC Park, I might actually be tempted to play Taillon at his price point. Since i’s in Cincinnati, I’m going to take a pass on that. It’s just too easy for hitters to luck into home runs. he’s not really a solid tournament play because the strikeout upside isn’t there that you want. I wouldn’t go crazy with hitters against him, but Joey Votto and Scooter Gennett are the best of the bunch.
Reds Hitters to Target
Elite Options – Joey Votto, Scooter Gennett
Secondary Options – Eugenio Suarez, Scott Schebler
Reds Probable Starter – Matt Harvey, RHP
6.17 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 17.4 strikeout rate
Vs LHH – .284 average, .398 wOBA, 45.0 fly ball rate and 45.9 hard contact rate
Vs RHH – .282 average, .337 wOBA, 25.5 fly ball rate and 40.4 hard contact rate
The Pirates offense is in a great spot tonight and I wonder how many people will notice it. Typically Matt Harvey gets the attention of a lot of players because he’s just terrible. Seeing the fly ball rate to lefties makes we go directly to two players – Corey Dickerson and Austin Meadows.
Dickerson has been a little quiet lately but that means he’s back down at $3,500 which is more comfortable to play. Meadows has looked like he belongs in the majors in his limited action and is just $2,700. There’s not too many Pirates bats I don’t like tonight.
Pirates Hitters to Target
Elite Options – Corey Dickerson, Austin Meadows, Gregory Polanco
Secondary Options – Josh Harrison, Colin Moran, Josh Bell, Francisco Cervelli
Home Run Pick – Austin Meadows
Diamondbacks at Brewers
Diamondbacks Probable Starter – Matt Koch, RHP
4.06 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 13.1 strikeout rate
Vs LHH – .189 average, .284 wOBA, 34.4 fly ball rate and 40.3 hard contact rate
Vs RHH – .298 average, .410 wOBA, 37.3 fly ball rate and 50.8 hard contact rate
Koch finally got lit up in his last start, going up eight runs. that start just so happened to come at home against this same Brewers lineup so we’re definitely digging a few Brewer hitters tonight. Koch looks like a reverse splits guy but the last time a pair of lefties got to him for home runs. Both Christian Yelich and Travis Shaw are great plays and I’m also interested in Lorenzo Cain and Jesus Aguilar. I think the last start for Koch is closer to what type of pitcher he truly is.
Brewers Hitters to Target
Elite Options – Christian Yelich, Travis Shaw, Lorenzo Cain
Secondary Options -Jesus Aguilar, Manny Pina
Brewers Probably Starter – Jhoulys Chacin, RHP
3.63 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 16.1 strikeout rate
Vs LHH – .282 average, .365 wOBA, 29.7 fly ball rate and 36.4 hard contact rate
Vs RHH – .193 average, .259 wOBA, 42.2 fly ball rate and 41.9 hard contact rate
Despite the high fly ball rate and hard contact rate for Chacin, I really am only looking at the lefty hitters tonight. Chacin isn’t anyone who I would chase although he did dominate this matchup just a few days ago. I don’t trust he can have another good start with such a small strikeout rate in a good hitter’s park.
Jake Lamb is under $3,000 and he’s close to a lock for me. He’s always in play against a righty, especially one who struggles with lefty bats. Lamb showed last night he’s fully healthy and ready to go after coming off the disabled list.
Diamondbacks Hitters to Target
Elite Options – Jake Lamb, David Peralta
Secondary Options – Daniel Descalso
Home Run Pick – Travis Shaw